When I check Task Manager I find that KM is using about 30,000k of memory but it is not visibly running and a new KM window will not open. My current remedy is to 'End Process' for KM within Task Manager then ignore the warning about the whole computer crashing down around me. KM will then open easily.

Chickenradio,

Can you tell us which version of K-Meleon you are using and how you are running it, such as using loader, multiple profiles or single user profile (profile.ini file located inside the KM folder, usually c:\program files\k-meleon).

Check you have the correct dlls files.
Sometimes for corrupted files or bad profile configuration K-Meleon not close fine and task continue running after close it. Then when you try to run again later nothing happen because KM detects that you already have a KM task running.